http://cynicallife.com/ What's a nice Jewish girl doing in a dump like this? en-us 2009-06-15T13:54:12-05:00 2009-06-28T22:18:31-05:00 Summer is off to a flying start around here. Relatives have visited from far-flung locales and I have made some short trips, mostly to upstate New York and the Berkshires to visit family and friends. I'm back in the office today after about 10 days of this madness, and it's been a surprisingly peaceful day so far which I hope I haven't jinxed by saying so. New things happening here at work, too: We've hired a new staff member who will be starting in a couple of weeks. I've gone through formal testing for my deficient attention issues and have... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/06/001450.html It is pathetic how pleased I am about a brand new toilet seat. Also, why didn't anyone tell me (often enough) about all the hot age-appropriate men at Home Despot?... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/05/001449.html So here's my latest dilemma: Fancy Private University -- FPU for short -- has just created and posted a brand new, very high level position that is potentially* my dream job. However, my immediate and longtime supervisor at FPU is not my biggest fan and isn't likely to strongly (if at all) support my candidacy. This wouldn't be such a big deal if my supervisor weren't viewed as a major rock star within the institution and if her boss, who pretty much knows only what my director tells her about me, weren't (A) very highly placed and influential in the... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/05/001448.html Fascinating.... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/04/001447.html Do not pass 'Go'. Do not collect $200. If you haven't seen the unassuming Susan Boyle sing "I Dreamed A Dream" (from Les Miserables) on Britain's Got Talent, then go find a hankie and click here. Do it now, kidlets; this shouldn't be missed.... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/04/001446.html I highly recommend those reusable grocery bags. They're exactly as useful and functional for transporting groceries as they're advertised to be, and they offer the additional benefit, at my house, of providing Olivia's favorite new resting spot when empty. I'd provide you with photographic evidence if only she would actually rest on one of the bags when I come close. It seems that she is so sure she's going to be in trouble for lying on them that she bolts when I take a step in her direction. Or maybe she just wants to start a game of "Tag." Anyway,... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/04/001445.html Cousin B. Ju's sister, Cousin Bea Ju, passed away yesterday, shortly after entering a hospice facility in Florida. She is survived by her stepson, his wife and their children. She was approximately 92 years old. The funeral will be held tomorrow near her former home in Manchester, NH. She will be missed by many in the extended Ju clan. There is one surviving sister, Cousin Sylvia Ju of Chestnut Hill, MA. Sylvia was the oldest of the three, and now she is the only one left. A whole era is slipping away.... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/04/001444.html Last Friday, I returned a call to the father of a student but got his voicemail. I left a message and the dad called me back just as I hung up. He told me that he was on his lunch break from work and had gone to the company gym to work out, and was planning to take his cell phone along on his run in case I called. And then he told me that he hadn't yet left for his run when I called; the reception was terrible in the locker room and he couldn't step out to take... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/04/001443.html I've found a lot of things in my couch, but never something ... alive.... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/04/001442.html Sorry -- too busy watching Cute Things Falling Asleep to post. Don't believe me? Resistance is futile.... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/03/001441.html About a month ago I realized that it was time. It had been far too long and I was mortified at the idea that the people I care about might discover just how bad things had become. So, I drew myself up, steeled myself for a difficult challenge, and I went shopping for socks. I bought about 15 pairs of socks. When I got home that day, I went through Le Drawer du Socks, collected the threadbare, the holey, the shrunken and the overstretched, and I put them all in one special place. I then tied off the special place... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/03/001440.html *tap* *tap* I'm here, but I think I've scared off all but a diehard or two. Hi! *waving* Thanks for stopping by from time to time even though there's only a rare payoff ... and not much of a payoff at that. I can't promise much today, either, but I felt compelled to post anyway. I've had a few tough months, with several significant deaths amongst my family and friends, plus a lot of pressure at work, all compounded by what some might call the winter blues. My boss seems to think that the way to motivate people is to... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/03/001439.html Setting: Basement/elevator lobby of office building. Day. Middle-aged woman enters from door at right as 2 college-aged women enter from stairwell at left. Young Woman #1: I am so sad [mumble]. Young Woman #2: What? Young Woman #1: I am so sad. My waxing lady is going on maternity leave. Young Woman #2: *beat* Your who? Not-So-Young Woman: I am so blogging this.... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/02/001438.html Yep, more snow today. I have the day off and was planning to take care of a ton of errand-y sorts of things, but now I'm staying in my jammies and watching TV instead. Oh, and for the record, I have bread in the house, but no eggs or milk. Please check in on me occasionally in case I go into French Toast withdrawal or develop snuggle-itis, or whatever other sorts of dangers might lie ahead under the circumstances. Thank you for your attention. This has been a test of the Snow Broadcasting System.... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/02/001437.html Okay, so 2008 will not go down in the annals of great years for this blogger. And then it seemed like maybe, just maybe 2009 would get off to a good start. But then, KAPOW. Like a punch in the kisser, my friends' little boy died unexpectedly last week at 3-1/2 years of age. Not that any death, at any age, and particularly the death of a child, could ever be less than horrendous and traumatic, but this kid and his parents had been through so much already. Then, when they were all getting into the groove of things, he's... http://cynicallife.com/archives/2009/01/001436.html